South Island School

What if I told you about a school built on the site of a former rifle range? South Island School, nestled against Mount Nicholson and facing the South China Sea, has a fascinating story. Established in 1977 by the English Schools Foundation, South Island School started as a mere annex of Island School with just a handful of students and teachers. Imagine starting with three Form 1 classes, one Form 2 and one Form 3. Today, South Island School boasts roughly 1,400 students from over 38 nationalities. The school’s motto, “Making a Difference,” is woven into the fabric of its activities. Students participate in a dedicated “Making a Difference Week.” They tackle service and action projects both in Hong Kong and abroad. South Island School didn’t stay small for long. The campus expanded over the years. It eventually moved to its current location on Nam Fung Road in 1983. The campus now includes the Ching Ling Soong Block, the Stephen Hawking Building, the Da Vinci Block, and the John Wray Atrium. The school even has a state-of-the-art 400-seat auditorium within its redesigned School Hall. South Island School isn’t just about bricks and mortar. It offers a diverse academic program. This includes the Middle Years Programme, IGCSEs, the IB Diploma Programme, and the IB Career-related Programme. The school also caters to students with additional learning needs with its Learning Support Unit. It provides English as an Additional Language support. South Island School’s academic achievements are noteworthy. In 2022, over 60% of students achieved A*-A grades in IGCSE/GCSE. The average IB Diploma score was significantly above the world average, with three students achieving the perfect score of 45. From its humble beginnings, South Island School has evolved into a vibrant hub of international education, living up to its motto and making a difference in the lives of countless students.